This presentation offers decades of expertise on ceasefire monitoring and management from an expert within the conflict mediation field. It outlines key factors during the difficult transition from battlefield to political dialogue and stresses best practices to facilitate peace in war-torn countries. It was originally presented on May 7, 2019 at a Stimson Center dialogue in Beijing, entitled “International Symposium on Conflict Mediation in BRI Countries and China’s Constructive Role.”
Jan Erik Wilhelmsen (Retired General) presently serves as Senior Adviser at Crisis Management Initiative (CMI)/Ahtisaari Centre in Finland and is the owner and Managing Director of Jannek Consult. General Wilhelmsen has experience from national Army Service from the company to brigade levels and Joint Service from the division level to National General Headquarters. His international experience covers Unit to Force level in the Middle East, Far East, Balkans, Central America, and Africa with the United Nations, NATO, Coalition Forces, and other organizations on the theatre and political levels—altogether more than 25 years in the field. He was selected as the first and only Chairman of the Joint Military Commission and Head of Joint Monitoring Mission to the Nuba Mountains in Central Sudan. After 2005, he served as Military Adviser in the Royal Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Nor MoFA) and taking part in the Darfur Peace Talks in Abuja. He served two years as the Chief Military Adviser to the SRSG and Chief Arms Monitor, UNMIN Nepal. Since 2009 he has led special peace projects in Africa, Colombia, the Philippines, Myanmar, Thailand, and Ukraine. He was commissioned to Brigadier General in 2002 and UN D-1/BG in 2006.